§ 5-17. Rabies tag; rabies vaccination and animal registration.

(a)

The requirements of this section only apply to owners of dogs, cats or ferrets, provided the dog, cat or ferret is three (3) months old or older.

(b)

The chief executive officer shall promulgate and administer the process for verification of rabies vaccinations and registration of dogs, cats or ferrets set forth in this section and may utilize county employees or third parties to handle any or all parts of this process. The chief executive officer shall determine what information is needed from veterinarians and owners in order to verify rabies vaccinations and complete the required registration process.

(c)

It shall be the duty of any owner of any dog, cat, or ferret to obtain a current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian periodically as ordered by the veterinarian.

(d)

After vaccination, it shall be the duty of any owner of any dog, cat or ferret to register each inoculated animal with the county or its designee and pay a registration fee in an amount to be established by the governing authority.

(e)

Veterinarians shall verify that an animal has received a rabies vaccination and shall advise the county or its designee of said vaccination in a manner and form specified by the chief executive officer.

(f)

Each veterinarian shall obtain registration information from the owner of each inoculated animal and shall forward such information and verification of the rabies vaccination to the county or its designee within thirty (30) days of inoculation of every dog, cat, or ferret.

(g)

Upon receipt of verification of rabies vaccination and the required registration information, the county or its designee shall contact the owner of the inoculated dog, cat, or ferret and shall require the owner to register the animal with the county. Upon registration of the dog, cat or ferret and payment of the registration fee, the county or its designee shall forward the appropriate rabies inoculation tag for that animal to the owner.

(h)

Registration also can be handled through a licensed veterinarian's office at the time of inoculation in the manner provided in this section. If a veterinarian agrees to handle registration, rabies inoculation tags shall be provided to licensed veterinarians. At the time of inoculation, veterinarians shall request that owners simultaneously pay the county's registration fee, which if collected shall be forwarded with the registration form and rabies certificate to the county or its designee by the veterinarian. For every registration fee collected by the veterinarian and remitted to the county or its designee, the veterinarian may keep an administrative processing fee in an amount to be established by the governing authority.

(i)

If an owner refuses to pay the registration fee to the veterinarian, the veterinarian shall notify the county or its designee of such refusal when it forwards the rabies certificate and the competed registration form to the county or its designee. Thereafter, the owner shall pay the registration fee directly to the county or its designee.

(j)

It shall be the duty of any owner of a dog, cat, or ferret to provide a collar or harness for such animal. The collar or harness, together with the rabies inoculation tag, shall be worn by the animal at all times.

( Ord. No. 15-09 , Pt. I, 12-15-15)